- www.qweerty.com May 24, 2011

Meanwhile in Louisiana, a House Committee decided to uphold traditional marriage or something by deferring a bill that would have allowed non-biological and “second” parents to adopt.

Louisiana law allows for adoption by a legal relative, but the House bill would add “second parents” to the list of people who can petition for such adoptions. The bill doesn’t specify whether the second parent would be male or female, so it would allow both members of a same-sex couple to adopt a child for the first time.

Currently, if a same-sex couple in Louisiana adopts a child, only one parent can be recognized as the legal guardian. Lesbian mothers at the hearing testified that their children face the risk of not having both parents recognized in the event of a divorce, the death of the primary guardian or a medical emergency involving the child.

Read the full post: http://www.queerty.com/the-louisiana-house-prefers-its-orphans-raise-themselves-20110524/?utm_source=wordtwit&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=wordtwit

- www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com May 23, 2011

Alcoa can’t wait… to distance themselves from the part an Alcoa representative on the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce played in helping an awful anti-​gay bill pass in that state.

In response to AmericaBlog initiated Netroots action, Alcoa has released a statement condemning the law and calling on Governor Bill Haslam of Tennessee to veto it.

“Alcoa provides equal employment opportunity without discrimination and supports state and local legislation protecting the rights of all community members. We do not agree with the chamber on this issue and would ask that the governor veto the bill.”

Read the full story here: http://thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/tennessee-anti-gay-law-alcoa-only-national-company-to-say-no/politics/2011/05/23/20700

- www.thetaskforceblog.com May 23, 2011

The Nevada Assembly today passed two bills prohibiting discrimination in housing and public accommodations based on gender identity or expression. According to the AP, the bills each passed 29-13. The Senate previously passed the measures, which now move to Gov. Brian Sandoval for his signature. Last week, a bill banning employment discrimination based on gender identity or expression cleared the Nevada Legislature; it also awaits the governor’s signature.

The Task Force has been working with the Las Vegas-based staff of the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada (PLAN) to pass protections for transgender Nevadans. This includes sending organizers from the Task Force Academy for Leadership and Action to assist and train local activists there, as well as providing monetary support.

Read the full story here: http://thetaskforceblog.org/2011/05/23/nevada-legislature-passes-two-more-transgender-nondiscrimination-bills/

- www.queerty.com May 20, 2011

As expected, lawmakers have passed the bill that would make it illegal to talk about gays in Tennessee schools. Or, as George would have us say, “to talk about Takeis.”

There was just one minor tweak before they passed it: now, it only applies to K-8. So, the very thin silver lining is that at least it won’t apply to high schoolers. Because to discuss Ellen DeGeneres and Tchaikovsky with anyone who has not yet reached 9th grade is to put them in mortal danger.

Read the full story here: http://www.queerty.com/breaking-dont-say-gay-passes-the-tennessee-senate-20110520/?utm_source=wordtwit&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=wordtwit

- www.glad.org May 20, 2011

Religious Exemption, Inconsistent Relationship Recognition Will Pose Problems
May 20, 2011

When Rhode Island’s House of Representatives passed H.6103Aaa last night, it passed the most restrictive religious exemption attached to any civil union or marriage bill in the country, according to Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders (GLAD). The bill’s language on reciprocity also creates arbitrary distinctions between the different forms of spousal protections for same-sex couples, causing continued uncertainty for legally married couples in the state. Beyond the inherent inequalities embodied by a civil union scheme, even the promise of comprehensive protections offered by this bill is seriously undercut by these provisions.

Everyone agrees that religious denominations should not be required to join any two people in any legal relationship – whether marriage or a civil union – that is contrary to their religious teachings. However, the religious exemption amendment goes much further in allowing religious charitable and educational organizations – such as social service providers, hospitals, and educational institutions – to treat legal civil unions, authorized under Rhode Island law, as invalid for any purpose.

Read the full story here: http://www.glad.org/current/pr-detail/glad-deplores-exemptions-inconsistency-in-ri-civil-union-bill/

- www.instinctmagazine.com May 13, 2011

After pressure from LGBT groups, sources close to Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis) have said that she is “very likely to run” for the state’s upcoming open Senate seat in 2012.

“This would obviously be a top priority for us. Tammy Baldwin has been an outstanding congresswoman, and she’d be an outstanding senator,” said Chuck Wolfe, president and CEO of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund. “This would be a remarkable milestone for LGBT Americans. Congresswoman Baldwin is one of the most admired public officials I know. She would have the strong support of those who want to see our economy work for all Americans, and who believe that all voices deserve a place at the table.”

Read the full story here: http://instinctmagazine.com/blog/will-rep-tammy-baldwin-be-the-first-openly-gay-u-s-senator?directory=100011

- www.sgdln.com May 13, 2011

KAMPALA, Uganda – Amid a presidential inauguration, an opposition leader’s return to Kampala to huge crowds and public riots over economic issues, Uganda’s Parliament was adjourned today without any debate on the controversial “Kill the Gays” bill.

The bill proposed by the rabidly anti-gay David Bahati has been widely condemned by many world leaders, including President Barack Obama. It would sentence people convicted of homosexual acts to life in prison or even death. More than 1 million people around the world have signed various petitions against the bill.

Human rights groups warn that the bill remains in limbo and could be debated by the new Parliament, which will be sworn in from May 16-18. Bills that aren’t debated in the old Parliament are scuttled and must be resubmitted to the new Parliament, officials said.

Avaaz, one of the human rights groups that sponsored an online petition against the bill, hailed the decision by the outgoing Parliament to not take up the “Kill the Gays” bill.

“The news that the brutal anti-gay law won’t be discussed in parliament today is a victory for all Ugandans and people across the world who value human rights,” said Alice Jay, campaign director of Avaaz.

Read the full story here: http://www.sdgln.com/news/2011/05/13/uganda-parliament-adjourns-without-action-kill-gays-bill

- www.sgdln.com May 12, 2011

WASHINGTON – Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) today introduced legislation to reduce youth homelessness and specifically prevent homelessness among gay teens.

The Reconnecting Youth to Prevent Homelessness Act would develop programs to improve family relationships and decrease homelessness for LGBT youth.

The bill would improve training, educational opportunities, and permanency planning for older foster youth. It also strengthens programs to reduce poverty and keep families together.

“As a father, it’s a punch in the gut to imagine children living on the streets, but this year alone, one in 50 American kids will be homeless,” Kerry said. “There are common sense reforms we can implement to help make things better for LGBT youth.”

Under Section 106 of the legislation, the bill would establish research-based programming aimed at reducing dejecting behaviors and
increasing supporting behaviors and understanding among families to improve the chances of LGBT youth remaining at home. The programs would also focus on improving relationships to keep LGBT youth in a safe and stable environment.

Read the full article and see the details of the bill here: http://sdgln.com/news/2011/05/12/sen-john-kerry-bill-would-fight-lgbt-youth-homelessness

- www.glaadblog.org May 12, 2011

Earlier this year, GLAAD highlighted the incredibly high levels of discrimination faced by transgender people as revealed in the report published by the National Center for Transgender Equality and the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force. Now, a recent study by the Williams Institute of UCLA, focusing on discrimination against transgender people in the workplace, shows that not only is this discrimination pervasive, but it is expensive. According to the results of the study, it is estimated that employment discrimination against transgender people costs Massachusetts millions of dollars in state revenue per year.

The Williams Institute based its study on the findings of the National Transgender Discrimination Survey (NTDS), which showed that due to anti-transgender bias, 20 percent of respondents lost a job, 39 percent were not hired for the job they applied for, and 17 percent were denied promotions. The NTDS also found that 15 percent of the transgender Massachusetts residents surveyed made less than $10,000 annually, compared to 3 percent of the general population—meaning that transgender men and women in the state are about five times more likely to live in poverty. Combining these findings with those of the U.S. Census Bureau regarding the number of people who identify as transgender in Massachusetts, the Williams Institute illustrates the effects of this income disparity on tax revenues, saying, “If transgender residents were making this amount [$10,000] at the same rate as the Massachusetts general population (3%), about 4,000 additional people would be making more than $10,000 every year…If all 4,000 people shifted from $10,000 to just $20,000 in annual income, the Commonwealth would garner over $2 million in additional income tax revenue per year.”

Read more here: http://glaadblog.org/2011/05/12/study-finds-high-costs-of-transgender-employment-discrimination-in-massachusetts/

- www.glaadblog.org May 12, 2011

Following the passage of civil union legislation by the Delaware General Assembly in April, Gov. Jack Markell (D) made good on a promise by signing the bill into law Wednesday night. The law takes effect on January 1, 2012 and will make Delaware the nation’s eighth state to allow civil unions or domestic partnerships for loving and committed gay and lesbian couples.

Once the law takes effect, Delaware’s gay and lesbian couples will be able to obtain civil unions, thus gaining legal recognition by the state. With a civil union, loving and committed gay and lesbian couples will have access to many of the same legal protections currently available only to married couples.

Read more at: http://glaadblog.org/2011/05/12/delaware-gov-jack-markell-signs-civil-union-bill-into-law/